The Last Hurrah - Part 8

Part 8 - "Goodbye My Lover"

After the waves washed away the heart in the sand, we went back to our room and started packing. She wanted to go back to town and buy some knock off name brand handbags for her friends and family. So we made a stop on the way to the airport for her to browse the street vendors one more time. It took a while for her to finally pick out what she wanted to get. She was especially happy with a black Chanel handbag and wallet she got for her mom, saying that she will put $1k cash in it and give it to her for Christmas. Only if her mom knew where the money came from! she also got a few tropical clothing items and got her hair braided.

By now we're cutting it close so we headed to the airport. While at the airport I told her there are a few shots left in the disposable camera and I'd like to take some shots before we get on the plane. It's a small airport and there is no jet bridge, so we actually have to go on the tarmac and take a stair to get on the plane. While we were out on the tarmac I took a picture of her in front of the plane with the mountains in the background. And then I asked another passenger to take a picture of us together. When he gave the camera back to me she tried to grab it but I took it from her and put it in my briefcase.

During the flight to Miami she slept for a bit, and when she woke up she asked me to send the pics to her when I get them developed. I told her I'll think about it. I also told her that I made a slideshow using the pics I took of her previously and I also have pics of some of the women I've been with. So naturally she wanted to see them. While looking through the pics she didn't say much other than that they are very pretty. Then I showed her the slide show made of her pics with captions of things she said to me in the past, set to the music of "And Then We Kiss" by Britney Spears which is one of her favorite songs. The slide show posed the question "Who is the real Laine?" and it went through a series of pics and captions that showed her as a "Sweet, caring, hard working girl next door", "Selfish, game playing, drama queen", and "Greedy, demanding, high priced escort." As she watched the slideshow I reminded her of the sweet things she used to say to me and the way things were in the beginning. She didn't show much reaction but I'm sure I got my point across.

After we got to Miami we hang out in the airline lounge to wait for our next flight. This is when she told me that she has picked "Goodbye My Lover" by James Blunt to be "our song". And she sang a couple of lines from the chorus "Goodbye my lover, goodbye my friend". I didn't know the song so I didn't know what it was about, but thought it strange that she would pick a song with that title.  She also said that it was good to have "closure" between us, which took me by surprise she would say things like that. Who needs "closure" when it's all about money? When it's time for me to board my flight, she walked me to the gate and we hugged and she kissed me on both cheeks and said goodbye, then walked away. And just like that she was out of my life. Or was she?

Well, she still gets the last laugh. After I got home I found two surprises. The first one is that she stole the disposable camera from my brief case. I'm not sure if she thought it was a harmless prank or there was something more sinister to it. That's why I have no pictures from the trip and I know I took some pretty good ones. The second surprise was the lyrics from the song which I have copied below. Why drew the heart in the sand and share such an emotional song with me on our last day?

She was playing games until the very end. That's just how she is, that's the real Laine.

The end?
-------------------------

"Goodbye My Lover" by James Blunt

Did I disappoint you or let you down?
Should I be feeling guilty or let the judges frown?
'Cause I saw the end before we'd begun,
Yes I saw you were blinded and I knew I had won.

So I took what's mine by eternal right.
Took your soul out into the night.
It may be over but it won't stop there,
I am here for you if you'd only care.
 
You touched my heart you touched my soul.
You changed my life and all my goals.
And love is blind and that I knew when,
My heart was blinded by you.

I've kissed your lips and held your head.
Shared your dreams and shared your bed.
I know you well, I know your smell.
I've been addicted to you.

Goodbye my lover.
Goodbye my friend.
You have been the one.
You have been the one for me.

I am a dreamer but when I wake,
You can't break my spirit - it's my dreams you take.
And as you move on, remember me,
Remember us and all we used to be

I've seen you cry, I've seen you smile.
I've watched you sleeping for a while.
I'd be the father of your child.
I'd spend a lifetime with you.

I know your fears and you know mine.
We've had our doubts but now we're fine,
And I love you, I swear that's true.
I cannot live without you.

Goodbye my lover.
Goodbye my friend.
You have been the one.
You have been the one for me.

And I still hold your hand in mine.
In mine when I'm asleep.
And I will bear my soul in time,
When I'm kneeling at your feet.

Goodbye my lover.
Goodbye my friend.
You have been the one.
You have been the one for me.
I'm so hollow, baby, I'm so hollow.
I'm so, I'm so, I'm so hollow. 

I still get goose bumps and think of her every time I hear this song.